Eight Tips for Avoiding Sedentary Behavior

One of the worst things you can do for your health besides poor eating habits is to be sedentary. Being sedentary means that you spend most of your time sitting or lying down regardless of what you’re doing – whether it’s reading, gaming, watching TV, or working. Training yourself not to be sedentary is probably one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Let’s explore ways to avoid sedentary behavior.

1. Get a Stand-Up Desk – If you work at a desk, it’s going to be really hard to avoid being sedentary. Ask your company for a stand-up desk. Some stand-up desks are “sit and stand” desks. If you work for yourself, you know what to do. Standing instead of sitting while you work at your desk could save your life.

2. Set Your Alarm – If you do need to sit to do something, set the alarm for every 90 to 100 minutes. This is designed to get you up and moving on a regular basis. Go for a brisk walk for 10 minutes at least every four hours, and you won’t be considered sedentary anymore.

3. Park at the End – When you need to go someplace to park, always park far from the entrance. This will force you to get in more walking. If you can walk or ride the bus instead of drive, that’s also a preferable way to get around and much healthier.

4. Plan to Be Active – Instead of planning more sedentary activities such as movie watching and sitting around eating, plan active things. Plan a trip to the park to play Frisbee; plan a family outing at the lake. Do things that are active. Even if you’re not used to it, you will become more accustomed to it as you keep doing it.

5. Walk after Dinner – Science says that one of the best times to walk is after your meals, especially if it’s a heavy one. Walking briskly for at least twenty minutes within 30 minutes of swallowing your last bite can totally reverse the effects of a high-fat meal.

6. Avoid Elevators – Anytime you see an elevator, that’s your key to find the stairs. At first, it will seem so impossible you’ll wonder why you’re doing it. However, within a relatively short time you will be used to it; it’ll feel normal, and your body will thank you for it.

7. Clean during Commercials – If you must watch television, make a commitment not to fast forward during commercials. Instead, clean and move more during them. Even if all you do is march in place, it’ll make a big difference.

8. Schedule Everything – If you want to be more active, schedule it. In fact, schedule your down time too. Schedule everything so that you know you have enough time to accomplish your goals. If you want to move more, just write it down and you’ll be more likely to stick to it.

It’s easy to get lost in life and not realize how sedentary you are. If you work from a desk, you’re likely very sedentary. The fact is, studies show that being sedentary is one of the worst things you can do for your health. Finding ways to avoid sedentary behavior will go far in helping you improve your health.